The Messenger of Music

She really felt a bit reluctant to part with it for Song Dao.

In her eyes, how was this just a demo?

As far as she could recall, only those older-generation artists, the top-tier Heavenly Kings and Queens, could make a demo sound like this.

After all, this was only the initial presentation of the song.

Although Song Dao's arrangement was very complete, some mixing, effects, and such hadn't been added yet.

Among the newcomers active in today's music scene, she had never seen anyone who could make a demo sound this good.

She felt that with a bit of post-production, it could be uploaded directly to a music platform and start charging.

Yan Yu looked at Song Dao: "I'm not meddling or anything, but I feel like no one could perform this better than you!"

If it were before Song Dao sang it, seeing these lyrics and composition, she would only think it was a good song, a shame not to sing it herself.

Especially in terms of level, it was even higher than "See Through."

But now, it wasn't a question of whether it was a shame or not; in her mind, no one could perform it better than Song Dao.

Actually, Song Dao was also a bit hesitant.

A song like "Always Been Quiet," which didn't suit him at all, giving it to Kong Xi to sing while he happily collected the money in the background was fine.

But he also really liked this song.

Especially since his current songs weren't bad, but they couldn't compare to the hits of someone like Zhang Yu, a former top-tier star.

Still, thinking it over, he let it go.

There were too many good songs!

He couldn't just keep every one that came along, could he?

He had also thought about his future path.

Following the tasks issued by the system, cultivating relevant singers in this world, and spreading the beautiful melodies from Earth fit his psychological expectations.

Not to sound too lofty, but he really hoped that in the future, he would have a group of Heavenly Kings and Queens, top-tier stars working for him.

Being a music godfather was pretty satisfying.

That was the difference between "I'm awesome" and "I make you all awesome, but I'm still more awesome."

As for himself, given his current age and status, it was better to take it step by step, climbing from low to high gradually.

That way, he'd be more grounded and less likely to stumble.

To avoid ending up like Lin Fei, who started with a perfect hand, skyrocketed to fame, not only blocking others' paths but also inviting jealousy.

Then, because of a small incident, it all collapsed overnight.

The pen name he used for creating could drop bombs from the start, which was why he used a pen name instead of his real name.

For himself, he would just take it one step at a time.

"I want to write more songs while my creative inspiration is rich, and then find different people to collaborate with."

He looked at Yan Yu and said, "And for this song, I might not actually be the one who performs it best."

Yan Yu wasn't convinced. In her view, Song Dao's singing skill, vocal tone, and emotional control were all top-notch!

Among his peers in this era, he was absolutely the best.

Even in that era of legendary artists, his creative ability and singing skill would still have a place!

This song was performed with incredible emotional impact.

She could even imagine how many people, after Song Dao's version was released, would be moved to tears just like she was.

What would those people in the mainstream music scene say then?

Although she was close to Kong Xi, in her eyes, Kong Xi was on a completely different level from the Song Dao in front of her.

She didn't know why he hadn't become famous in the past few years.

Was it because he was always being a simp?

Well, that explained it...

"By the way..." Song Dao suddenly remembered something, "I wanted to ask you about someone, Senior Sister. His name is Hu Wei, also a graduate of the Central Conservatory of Music. Do you know him?"

Yan Yu was taken aback and blurted out, "Him? What about him? He's a Senior Brother two years above me, a talented scholar from the Central Conservatory back in the day. We even formed a band together. He's a very solid guy..."

She paused, then looked at Song Dao: "You're not thinking of giving this song to him to sing, are you? Then he'd be incredibly lucky!"

With her preconceived notions, Yan Yu really didn't think giving this song to Hu Wei would produce a better result.

This was clearly a song that elevated the singer; even if it didn't make whoever sang it famous, it wouldn't be far off.

Song Dao smiled: "I've just heard some things about him. As for who sings it, we'll decide later."

"Yeah, anyway, think it over. This song is definitely going to be a hit!" Yan Yu said, glancing at her phone, a bit surprised: "It's already past one? Let's grab lunch first, then record that song in the afternoon."

After that, they casually ordered two takeout meals. While waiting, Yan Yu took the initiative to talk about Hu Wei.

"Central Conservatory of Music is pretty much like any other arts school."

"Everyone's desperate to get famous."

"Pure campus romance is too fragile in the face of fame and fortune."

"Hu Wei and his girlfriend back then were the envy of the whole school—a perfect fairy-tale couple. The guy was handsome, the girl was beautiful. But once they stepped out of those school gates, everything changed."

"Ideals losing to reality—it's all too common."

Song Dao already had a rough idea of Hu Wei's story.

He nodded and said, "Poverty makes a hundred things go wrong; easily the old heart changes, as they say..."

"Huh?"

Yan Yu looked at Song Dao with some surprise.

She'd actually been about to ask if this song was written based on Hu Wei's experience, and that's why he wanted to give it to him to sing.

Because judging by the lyrics, it really did fit Hu Wei's story better.

For Junior Brother and his ex-girlfriend, "See Through Love, See Through You" was a much more fitting match...

But Song Dao's line about "poverty makes a hundred things go wrong; easily the old heart changes" threw off her train of thought.

What was with this guy?

He kept a low profile like crazy, yet casually dropped poetic lines that tugged at the heartstrings.

As a literary-minded young woman, she couldn't stand that.

Song Dao regretted it a bit as soon as he spoke.

In this world, which had diverged since the Three Kingdoms, there were naturally no talented poets like Yuan Zhen or Nalan Xingde.

He didn't explain, instead changing the subject: "Senior Sister, could you draft a contract template for me? I plan to keep it for future use—the kind between a creator and a singer. Just go with the standard for newcomers, eighty-twenty split."

Whether he'd give it to Hu Wei or not was another matter. Right now, there was a handy tool in front of him—why not use it?

The fifty-fifty split with Kong Xi was because she was already famous.

He also needed to break into the scene.

Besides, the film production company commissioning the song was after Kong Xi's name and traffic, not whoever wrote the lyrics and melody.

But in future collaborations, he'd definitely keep a firm grip on control. Even if the other party was a long-established veteran, he'd still take the lion's share of the profits.

Take it or leave it.

After all, the system was taking half of his post-tax earnings.

When you counted it up, it wasn't that much more.

With songs in hand that could make someone famous, he wasn't afraid of not finding the right partner.

Yan Yu: "..."

She was yanked right out of that sentimental mood.

Blinking her peach-blossom eyes, she looked at Song Dao with some displeasure.

This Junior Brother was pretty ruthless!

But looking at that handsome face, she also felt that a young man with such talent could still stay so clear-headed when it came to profit!

Nothing wrong with that!

Right, clear-headed!

A lot of artists, deep down, craved fame and status like crazy, but insisted on putting on an air of being above it all.

As if talking about fame and fortune was beneath them.

But if it actually affected them, they'd give you a sour face on the spot.

Better to be like Junior Brother!

Real!

He must have been tempered by that ex-girlfriend of his.

"Alright, I'll get it ready for you right now!" Yan Yu got up briskly, went to the computer, and started clacking away at the contract.

For her, it was just a small favor.

But for Song Dao, having Senior Sister's help not only saved him trouble but also kept things confidential.

Otherwise, he'd have to go buy a printer himself.

He didn't have much left in the tank—had to be thrifty.

Following Song Dao's instructions, the contract was done quickly.

After reviewing it, he expressed his satisfaction.

The song copyright belonged to him, granting the performer a fifteen-year license.

Over those fifteen years, Song Dao would take eighty percent of the profits from the song, and the other party would get twenty percent.

This is absolutely a top-tier producer signing a newcomer's contract.

If it had been before, Yan Yu would have found it absurd.

But now, she felt it wasn't entirely out of the question.

With Junior Brother's talent, as long as he kept it up, he could definitely stir up a storm in the current stagnant music scene.

Reviving the prestige of those golden-era lyricists and composers.

--If you think it's too expensive, don't come to me!

Still, staying an independent musician forever wasn't impossible, but it would create a lot of problems.

No rush for now; she'd find time to talk to him later.

After lunch, they took a short break and headed back to the second-floor recording studio.

They began recording today's second song--Sad City.

Although it didn't strike Yan Yu as stunning as One Person's Eternal Love, she immediately recognized it as a song cut from the same cloth as See Through Love, See Through You!

Song Dao's performance was still spot-on, his voice perfectly conveying the painful experience of a man betrayed in love and his inner struggle.

At this point, Yan Yu was basically certain that the tall, handsome young man in front of her had a treasure trove hidden in his mind!

He was an all-around lyricist and composer!

Able to elevate female singers and captivate male audiences alike.

"In the past, I've heard many stories about senior music creators. They say that when Li Zong wrote that classic love song Sentimental Love, he listened to the singer's story while scribbling lyrics on a restaurant napkin. By the time the story ended, the song was done."

During a break in recording, Yan Yu chatted with Song Dao, smiling. "I was amazed back then, but I also felt it was a bit unrealistic—until I met you. Now I know there really are geniuses in this world!"

Song Dao felt a bit embarrassed by the praise, thinking to himself that this was all the system's doing. He didn't have that kind of talent and couldn't take the credit.

Without the system, even if he had transmigrated with a solid grasp of professional music knowledge and no blurring of his memories, he'd probably only be able to write a few dozen songs at most.

And even those wouldn't truly be his.

So he wasn't a genius. He was just a messenger of music.